STOCKING NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS SHEEP RANGE 



17 



that excessive trampling- is one of the major causes of damage on 

 sheep range. Countless steps by the narrow, sharp hoofs of the sheep 

 cut the crowns of forage plants and loosen the soil around them. The 

 loose soil is then moved by wind, and the shallow roots become 

 exposed, dry out, and frequently die. 



WATERING AND SALTING 



The experimental yearling ewes did not water regularly even though 

 watering places were plentiful and well distributed. It was not un- 

 usual for a group to drink three or four times in a single day but at 

 other times and for no apparent reason the same group would go to 

 water only every other day. Even in the hottest part of summer, the 

 sheep would occasionally go 2 days without a drink. Puddles formed 

 by melting snow in early spring, and small ponds formed during 

 showers in summer, served temporarily as watering places. In the 



Figure 8. — A small spring which was developed and the water piped into troughs 

 to improve distribution in the pastures. 



fall, water was taken less frequently than in summer. When snow 

 covered the range, water was seldom taken. 



A number of small springs and seeps were developed in the pasi ures 

 to provide additional watering places. This resulted in noteworthy 

 improvement in distribution as compared to watering at one central 

 location. Such weak springs (fig. 8) are quite common on many 

 dry ranges where shale formations outcrop. These developments 



finite value in a range sheep 



demonstrated that sma 



tpnngs nave a del 



